ProCredit Holding AG
Climate Impact & Sustainability Data (2017, 2018, 2021, 2022, 2023)
Reporting Period: 2017
Environmental Metrics
ESG Focus Areas
- Business Model
- Approach to Clients
- Approach to Staff
Environmental Achievements
- Reduced total CO2 emissions by 14%
- Reduced total energy consumption of buildings by 21%
- Reduced water consumption per employee by 6%
- Reduced paper consumption per employee by 20%
- Increased share of green loan portfolio to 12.6%
Social Achievements
- Increased diversity of middle management to 49% women
- Invested EUR 6.9 million in employee training
- Provided an average of 17.8 training days per employee
- Improved loan portfolio quality (PAR30 down to 2.9%)
Governance Achievements
- Implemented a group-wide Code of Conduct
- Upgraded MSCI ESG rating to AA
- Became a member of the London Social Stock Exchange
- No significant non-compliance events identified
Climate Goals & Targets
- Not disclosed
- Not disclosed
- Increase share of private clients using internet banking to 50% by Dec 2018
- Increase share of e-cars and hybrid cars in fleet to 50% by Dec 2018
- Achieve 15% green loan portfolio by end of 2018
- Implement group standards for financing renewable energy projects at all banks outside Germany by Dec 2019
- Provide comprehensive training to responsible staff on renewable energy finance by Dec 2018
- Reach B1 level of English among all employees by Dec 2018
Environmental Challenges
- Volatile operating environment in transition economies and developing countries
- Relatively intransparent business practices and low level of trust in banks
- Low level of environmental awareness
- Lack of protection and enforcement of regulations
- Tightening interest margins since the financial crisis
Mitigation Strategies
- Disciplined, transparent approach to banking and conservative risk management
- High standards beyond regulatory requirements
- Culture of understanding and compliance among staff
- Effective compliance function
- Robust credit risk management processes tailored to SME clients
- Focus on long-term, sustainable partnerships with clients
- Investment in modern technology and digital solutions
- Continuous investment in staff training and development
Supply Chain Management
Supplier Audits: Not disclosed
Responsible Procurement
- Environmental criteria incorporated into Procurement Policies
Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities
Physical Risks
- Not disclosed
Transition Risks
- Not disclosed
Opportunities
- Financing renewable energy projects and energy-efficient technologies
Reporting Standards
Frameworks Used: GRI
Certifications: ISO 14001, EMAS
Third-party Assurance: Not disclosed
UN Sustainable Development Goals
- SDG 4
- SDG 7
- SDG 8
- SDG 9
- SDG 12
Initiatives contribute to decent work, economic growth, quality education, affordable and clean energy, responsible consumption and production
Sustainable Products & Innovation
- Green loans
Awards & Recognition
- Not disclosed
Reporting Period: 2018
Environmental Metrics
ESG Focus Areas
- Economic development
- Corporate governance
- Environmental management
- Technology and innovation
- Reliable and stable partnerships
- Sustainable finance
- Prudent credit risk management
- Ethical values and working environment
- Fair recruiter and employer
- Staff development
Environmental Achievements
- Reduced CO2 emissions by 15%
- Reduced energy consumption in ProCredit buildings by 23%
- Increased share of hybrid and electric cars in the fleet to 57%
- 100% of paper waste recycled
- 31% of e-waste recycled, 69% reused
- Own PV systems producing 160 MWh in 2018, resulting in a CO2 emissions reduction of 93 tonnes
Social Achievements
- Continued investment in staff training (146 hours per employee)
- Improved portfolio quality (Defaulted loan portfolio decreased to 3.1% of gross loan portfolio)
- Supported the expansion of debt counselling and legal advisory services in Frankfurt am Main
- Transparent recruitment process attracting and retaining employees
- 51% of management board members are women
Governance Achievements
- No significant non-compliance events identified
- Transparent corporate governance structure
- Strong compliance culture
- Implementation of German banking regulations and EU Market Abuse Regulation
Climate Goals & Targets
- Not disclosed
- Increase the relative size of the group’s green loan portfolio to 20% of the total loan portfolio
- Become carbon neutral with regard to the group’s own CO2 emissions
- Further increase the high level of social and environmental competence among our staff
- Not disclosed
Environmental Challenges
- Volatile operating environment in transition economies
- Relatively intransparent business practices and low levels of trust in banks
- Low levels of environmental protection and enforcement of regulations
- Tightening interest margins
- Subdued economies and investment climate
Mitigation Strategies
- Robust credit risk management processes
- Strong compliance management systems
- Focus on SME clients and direct banking
- Investment in state-of-the-art equipment and information technologies
- Comprehensive environmental management system (EMS)
Supply Chain Management
Supplier Audits: Not disclosed
Responsible Procurement
- Environmental criteria incorporated into procurement policies
Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities
Physical Risks
- Not disclosed
Transition Risks
- Not disclosed
Opportunities
- Financing renewable energy projects
Reporting Standards
Frameworks Used: GRI Standards: Core option
Certifications: ISO 14001, EMAS (for German institutions)
Third-party Assurance: Not disclosed
UN Sustainable Development Goals
- SDG 5
- SDG 7
- SDG 8
- SDG 9
- SDG 12
- SDG 13
- SDG 16
ProCredit's activities contribute to these goals through sustainable finance, environmental management, and social initiatives.
Sustainable Products & Innovation
- ProCredit Direct online banking platform
Awards & Recognition
- Not disclosed
Reporting Period: 2021
Environmental Metrics
ESG Focus Areas
- Green Finance
- Carbon Neutrality
- Staff Competence
- Economic Development
- Corporate Governance
- Internal Environmental Management
- Technology and Innovation
- Reliable Partnerships and Transparent Services
- Prudent Credit Risk Management
- Ethical Values and Working Environment
- Fair Recruiter and Employer
- Staff Development
Environmental Achievements
- Direct carbon footprint totalled -56% of 2018 CO2 emissions.
- 11% reduction in energy consumption in office buildings between 2018 and 2021.
- 59% of the vehicle fleet is electric and 12% is (plug-in) hybrid.
- Green loan portfolio grew by 14.5%.
Social Achievements
- Total hours devoted to environmental training: 13,850.
- Total hours devoted to Code of Conduct training: 14,132.
- 425,010 hours of training were provided to ProCredit Bank colleagues in 2021 (average 16 days/employee).
Governance Achievements
- 0 incidents of reported discrimination in 2021.
- 0 incidents of non-compliance with environmental laws and regulations.
- 0 incidents of non-compliance with social/economical laws and regulations.
Climate Goals & Targets
- Increase the share of green loans in the total portfolio; align environmental and social risk assessment with the EU Taxonomy.
- Carbon neutrality by 2023
- 20% green loan portfolio by 2023
Environmental Challenges
- Challenges in reaching the 20% green loan portfolio target in all countries due to regulations and infrastructure limitations.
- Lack of data for Kosovo in UNEP FI Portfolio Impact Analysis.
Mitigation Strategies
- Focusing efforts on increasing the share of green loans in countries where the target wasn't met.
- Addressing data gaps and engaging local stakeholders in future UNEP FI Portfolio Impact Analyses.
Supply Chain Management
Responsible Procurement
- Code of Conduct; Supplier Sustainability Requirements; Sustainable Supplier Screening and Assessment Tool.
Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities
Reporting Standards
Frameworks Used: GRI Standards: Core option, UN Global Compact, UNEP FI Principles for Responsible Banking, IFC Performance Standards, EBRD Performance Requirements, PCAF, TCFD
Certifications: ISO 14001, EMAS (Germany-based institutions), EDGE (4 bank headquarters)
UN Sustainable Development Goals
- SDG 2
- SDG 3
- SDG 4
- SDG 5
- SDG 6
- SDG 7
- SDG 8
- SDG 9
- SDG 10
- SDG 11
- SDG 12
- SDG 13
- SDG 14
- SDG 15
- SDG 16
- SDG 17
The report details how ProCredit's initiatives contribute to these goals through various programs and actions.
Sustainable Products & Innovation
- Green loans; green bonds.
Reporting Period: 2022
Environmental Metrics
ESG Focus Areas
- Climate Change
Environmental Achievements
- Reduced Scope 1 and 2 emissions from 16,000 tCO2eq in 2015 to approximately 4,000 tCO2eq in 2022 (as shown in the graphic on page 5).
- Achieved 20% green portfolio allocation in 2022.
- Inaugurated a 3 MWp PV park in Kosovo, aiming to avoid 4,000 tCO2eq of emissions annually.
Social Achievements
- Not disclosed
Governance Achievements
- Established a Group Sustainability Steering Committee (GSSC), Group Risk Management Committee (GRMC), and Group ESG Risk Management Sub-Committee (ESGRC) to oversee climate action.
- Joined the Net-Zero Banking Alliance (NZBA) and committed to setting near- and long-term emissions reduction targets aligned with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) Net-Zero Standard.
Climate Goals & Targets
- Net zero emissions by 2050 (Scope 1, 2, and 3 category 15).
- Increase the share of green portfolio to 25% in the next 5-7 years.
- Reduce own emissions by 42% before 2030 (2022 as baseline year).
- Engage with clients responsible for 28% of total portfolio emissions by 2027 to support their target setting (focus on agriculture and manufacturing).
Environmental Challenges
- Exposure to physical risks (flood, drought, wildfire) and transition risks (policy changes, technological innovations, shifting consumer preferences) due to geographical outreach and loan portfolio composition.
Mitigation Strategies
- Implemented an exclusion list to reduce exposure to transition risk (e.g., excluding fossil fuel extraction financing).
- Set key risk indicators (KRIs) for transition and environmental risks, monitored quarterly.
- Conducting forward-looking stress-tests based on NGFS scenarios to quantify potential effects of climate change on the loan portfolio.
- Identifying geographies with elevated exposure to physical risks for targeted adaptation and mitigation measures.
- Providing green loans to clients to boost resilience and reduce transition risks (15% of green loan portfolio allocated to agriculture).
Supply Chain Management
Supplier Audits: Not disclosed
Responsible Procurement
- Implementation of a system to assess suppliers in terms of sustainability, including environmental measures related to climate mitigation (e.g. green labelling, energy efficiency measures, renewable energy).
Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities
Physical Risks
- Flood, drought, wildfire
Transition Risks
- Policy and regulation risk, technology risk, market risk from changes in consumer preferences
Opportunities
- Not disclosed
Reporting Standards
Frameworks Used: GHG Protocol, PCAF
Certifications: Null
Third-party Assurance: Not disclosed
UN Sustainable Development Goals
- Not disclosed
Not disclosed
Sustainable Products & Innovation
- Not disclosed
Awards & Recognition
- Not disclosed
Reporting Period: 2023
Environmental Metrics
ESG Focus Areas
- Climate Action
- Decent Work and Economic Growth
- Gender Equality
- Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
- Affordable and Clean Energy
Environmental Achievements
- Achieved carbon neutrality in own operations in 2023 through commissioning of a 3 MWp PV plant in Kosovo, avoiding nearly 3,500 tCO2 annually.
- Reduced Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 71% from 2015 to 2023.
- Increased share of electric vehicles in fleet to 45%.
Social Achievements
- Supported the creation of an estimated 193,344 jobs in 2023 through business clients.
- Launched Hive Room, a collaborative initiative supporting startups and freelancers.
- Defined first Gender Action Plan to strengthen support for women's empowerment.
- Trained 100% of employees on gender equity.
Governance Achievements
- Finalized change in ProCredit Holding’s legal form to a joint stock corporation in September 2023.
- Expanded Supervisory Board with new members bringing valuable expertise.
Climate Goals & Targets
- Achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
- Increase engagement with clients responsible for 28% of Scope 3 emissions by 2027.
- Reduce Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 42% by 2030.
- Increase share of green loans in portfolio to 25%.
Environmental Challenges
- Maintaining access to EU markets for SMEs.
- Coping with regulatory requirements and strengthened financial market formalisation for SMEs.
- Adapting to climate and social risks for SMEs.
Mitigation Strategies
- Supporting SMEs in navigating challenges through tailored banking services and expertise.
- Streamlining lending processes and vesting banks with more decision-making power.
- Expanding retail banking services to broader population.
- Investing heavily in people, IT, and marketing.
Supply Chain Management
Supplier Audits: Not disclosed
Responsible Procurement
- Not disclosed
Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities
Physical Risks
- Physical climate risks in the agricultural sector
Transition Risks
- Transition risks in the group portfolio
Opportunities
- Green investments in renewable energy, energy efficiency, and sustainable agriculture
Reporting Standards
Frameworks Used: GRI Standards
Certifications: ISO 14001, EMAS, EDGE Green Building (Ukraine head office)
Third-party Assurance: Not disclosed
UN Sustainable Development Goals
- SDG 8
- SDG 5
- SDG 13
- SDG 7
- SDG 9
The report details how ProCredit's activities contribute to these SDGs through various initiatives.
Sustainable Products & Innovation
- Not disclosed
Awards & Recognition
- Not disclosed